Ring binder



Dec. 4, 1962 J. K. DUNCAN 3,066,680

RING BINDER Filed July 18, 1960 n mwslm A 4 A37 A28 INVENTOR. .J'AMEs K. DUNCAN BY United States Patent Ofifice 3,066,689 RING BINDER James K. Duncan, Park Ridge, iii, assignor to Duncan Research, Chicago, lil., a partnership Filed July 18, 1960, Ear. No. 43,470 Claims. ll. 129-24) The present invention relates to an improved ring binder or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ring binder having a pair of physically interengaging relatively rockable members with coacting parts defining sheet-securing rings when in the closed position, the conformation and construction of the coacting parts being such that they are yieldably secured in ring-closing position through their own fiexure. A feature of the pres ent invention in this regard is that while the members are thus securely held in the ring closed position, they may, at the desire of the user, be pivotally moved against the ilexure of the parts to a ring-opening position for insertion or removal of filler sheets or the like.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a ring binder of the above type which may be inexpensively fabricated from extruded plastic parts. The parts as extruded may be so formed that the structure utilized for securing the ring-holding members in the ring locked position, as previously mentioned, is inherently a part of the extrusions.

An additional object of my invention is to enable the production of binders of the type mentioned which may be fabricated with any desired number of rings to suit the preferences of the manufacturer or user. The binders may be made of attractively colored plastics. They can be suitably provided with labelling guides. They may be formed with provisions to hold covers thereon or without cover-holding parts, as may be desired.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a ring binder defined by a pair of extruded plastic members defining sheet-receiving rings when in closed position, in which one member defines a lengthy non-circular bearing socket and the other member defines a cooperating complementary lengthy bearing cylinder, the parts mating when in prong-closing position and being further effective to flex resiliently when rocked to prong-opening position, the structure further being characterized by an absence of substantial prong-closing bias after the parts have been initially swung a predetermined distance in the prong-opening direction.

It is additionally an object of the present invention to provide a unit of the foregoing type in which no hinge pin and the associated structure is required and the extruded plastic members themselves form the relatively rockable parts.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a binder with covers and fillers held therein;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial section as viewed along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG- URE 2 of an alternative form of binder;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG- URE 2 of another alternative form of binder; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View corresponding to FiG- URE 2 of a further alternative form of binder.

The structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 is that of a binder generally in which is held a pair of covers 11 and 12 and a plurality of punched filler sheets 13. Binder 10 comprises a pair of rockable members 15 and 16. Each of members 15 and 16 has a portion extendlog towards the other, which portions form what may be termed the spine of the binder, with a pivotal connection between the members in that spine.

The portion or" member 15 that extends towards member 16 comprises a neck 17 with a head ill on the end thereof. One side of head 13 is generally cylindrical as indicated at 1%. The opposite side of head 13 forms a nose 2! t will be noted that nose 2% is defined by a. pair of fiat sides. These flat sides and the cylindrical side It? extend the length of the rockable member 15.

The portion of member 16 extending towards member 15 comprises a pair of spaced arms 22 and 23 which extend the length of the member 16. Adjacent the end of arm 22 is a V recess 24 which fits about nose 2%. A concave recess 25 adjacent the end of arm 23 fits about cylindrical side lid. The two arms 22 and 23 are resiliently urged toward each other to securely hold head 13 in the two recesses in the arms.

Members 15 and 16 have humps 27 and 2% respectively on the outside of the back thereof to facilitate gripping the members when they are to be opened. As a part of arm 23 of member 16 there is a way 29 within which a slide Iii is received. Slide 3% may be of clear or colored plastic, metal, etc. It can serve as a labelling guide or merely give a contrasting, attractive appearance to the spine of the binder.

Extending from the top of member 15 is a ridge 32 with a plurality of spaced, hooked claws 33 projecting therefrom. Claws 33 are received in spaced openings 34 in cover ii. The extending ends of the claws contact the rings hereinafter described. A ridge 35 on member 16 defines an undercut slot 36 within which cover i2 is received. A plurality of spaced embossments 37 project rom ridge 35 into slot 36. Embossments 37 are reeeived in spaced openings 38 in cover I12.

A plurality of curvilinear prongs ll} extend from the side ll of member .15. Similarly, a plurality of spaced curvilinear prongs 42 extend fro n the side 43 of member is. rougs iii and 42. are in pairs, with each pair forming a ring to pass through a punched opening 44-. in sheets 13. The extending ends of the prongs id and 42 have mating t -shaped ends as illustrated at 45 so as to define a continuous ring between sides 41 and 43 when the binder is in the position illustrated in FIGURES l and 2.

Members 15 and 16 may be formed of a continuous plastic extrusion. After the extrusion of a length of material, pieces may be cut to size to form a binder of a predetermined length. The portion of the extrusion represented by prongs 2d and 42 and claws 33 may be cut away to leave only the prongs and claws. Projections 37 may be formed by embossing the inner side of ridge 35 along slot 36. The extrusion and cutting of plastic to form the rings and the like are more fully described in my pending applications Serial No. 753,548, filed August 6, 1958, and 778,804, filed December 8, 1958, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

After the extrusion of members 35 and 16 and either before or after the cutting to form the prongs, etc., the two members may be assembled by inserting head 18 into the socket formed by recesses 24 and 25. The com pleted binder is releasably fixed in the position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 by the engagement of nose 20 in the V recess 24. The nose 2t} forms what may be termed a detent to releasably fix the socket joint so that the members 15 and 16 will stay in the normal, ring closed, position illustrated in FIGURE 2. Upon pivoting the bumps 27 and 28 towards each other the members 15 and 16 may pivot a total of about 37 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, thus providing an adequate opening between the ends of the prongs 49 and 42 for aoeaeso 3 the insertion and removal of pages 13. The friction in the socket joint will hold the members and 16 in that position. When the pages 13 have been changed, the members 15 and 16 may be pivoted in the reverse direction by the application of a suitable force to the prongs or to ridges 32 and 35 to return the members to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The binder generally 49 of FIGURE 3 comprises a pair of rockable members 50 and 51. Member 59 has a bifurcated portion 52 extending toward member 51 with the end thereof forming a generally cylindrical socket surface 53. Similarly, member 51 has a portion 5 extending toward member 50 with a generally cylindrical head on the end thereof. While in the main the socket surface 53 and the head 55 are cylindrical, they have mating flat parts 56, 57 and 58 to normally lock the socket connection in the ring-closed position, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Bifurcated portion 52 has a way 6%] at the back side thereof to receive a slide 61. The slide 62 is received in a way 63 along the back side of portion 54. The rear corners of members 51 and 51 have humps 64 and 65 respectively defining grooves to facilitate applying pressure to the members for a pivotal movement to open the rings.

Binder 49, like binder 11 has a plurality of rings spaced therealong. Each ring is formed of a curvilinear prong 66 extending from side 67 of member 5 11 and a prong 68 extending from side 6% of member 51. The extending ends of prongs 66 and 63 are curved to mate with each other as illustrated at 79, thus defining a continuous ring between sides 67 and 69 when the members 51) and 51 are in the ring-closed position illustrated in FIGURE 3. Member 50 has a ridge 72. defining a slot 73 within which cover 74 is received. To engage the opening 75 in cover 74 the inner side of ridge 72 defining slot 73 is provided with a plurality of embossments '76 which project into opening 75. Similarly, ridge 77 defines a slot 78 and embossment 79 which project into openings iii) of cover 81.

The pressure applied to humps 64 and 65 will act to move those humps rearwardly towards each other to pivot head 55 in socket 53. Without the application of such a pressure, the detent means formed by flats 56, 57 and 53 will hold the two members 51 and 51 in the ringclosed position illustrated in FIGURE 3. Such a pivotal movement can snap the rings partially opened, a 15 movement of head 55 in socket 53, or all the way opened, which is a total 60 rotation of head 55 in socket 53. Of course, to close the rings a pressure of ridges 72 and '77 towards each other will result in a reverse pivotal movement, bringing the prongs 67 and 68 together to form a continuous ring as illustrated.

The binder generally illustrated in FIGURE 4 comprises a rockable member 86 and a rockable member 87. Member 36 has an elongated portion 88 extending toward member 87 with the end of portion 88 being bifurcated and defining a generally cylindrical head 89. Head 89 is received in a generally cylindrical socket 94) formed by the side of member 87 extending toward member 86. Hooked portions 91 coplanar with the rings also define a part of the socket 9%}. While the head 89 and socket t) are generally cylindrical, one part thereof is formed of a much sharper radius of curvature than is the general cylindrical portion. This part is illustrated at 92 and defines a detent means to releasably hold the members 86 and 87 in the rotational position illustrated in FIG- URE 4.

The rings are formed by curvilinear prongs 94 and 95 extending from sides 96 and 97 of members 86 and 87 respectively. At the opposite side of members 86 and 87 are ridges 3 and 33 to facilitate grasping members 86 and 87 for pivotal movement. A way 1% in elongated portion 83 receives a slide 161. Flaps 1&2 and 163 are provided with inward projections 104 and 105 to engage the openings 106- and 107 of covers 198 and 169. The binder 85 illustrated in FlGURE 4 is particularly adapted for large, quick-openingring binders. The number of rings formed by prongs 9 and 95 would be determined by the preferences of the manufacturer and user. Normally it would be made with the number of prongs being between 2 and '7. The detent formed by the sharp curvature portion 92 will releasably hold the members $6 and 87 in the ring-closed position illustrated in FIGURE 4, yet the binder can be easily opened by a pivotal pressure applied to ridges 98 and 99. The cylinrical surfaces of head .39 and socket 90 will provide sufficient frictional engagement to hold the binder in the desired ring open position.

The binder generally illustrated in FIGURE 5 comprises a pair of rockable members 116 and 117. As originally extruded (if that method of manufacture is employed), member 116 is formed with a generally cylindrical head 118 and member 117 is formed with a generally cylindrical socket 119. However, when the prongs 129 and 121 are cut from the curvilinear extrusion, the head 11% and socket 119 are similarly cut so that the portions thereof coplanar with the prongs are in the form of strips 122 and 123 respectively. In this embodiment, a pair of mating flat surfaces 124 and 125 in strlps 122 and 123 interrupt the generally cylindrical configuration and define a detent to normally hold the binder in the ring-closed position illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Prongs 126 and 121 project from sides 127 and 128 of members 116 and 117 respectively. Where the extending ends of the prongs 129 and 121 come together, in the ring-closed position, the extending end of one is shaped to fit into a recess in the other as illustrated at 129.

The portion of member 116 that extends towards member 117 and defines head 118 is recessed as illustrated at 130* and 131 to define a way to receive and hold slide 132. The outer rear corners of members 116 and 117 define ridges 133 and 134 having claws 135 and 136 projecting therefrom back towards the main body of members 116 and 117. Claws 135 and 136 project through openings 137 in covers 138.

The detent defined by flat portions 124 and 125 of head 118 and socket 119 normally will hold the binder in the ring-closed position illustrated in FIGURE 5. However, even with the slide 132 in position as illustrated, members 116 and 117 may be rocked rearwardly towards each other a full 90 to open the rings defined by prongs 120 and 121.

It will be observed that with the constructions here shown and described, one of the rockable members has portions that flex on initial opening movement, thereby holding the rockable members in prong-closing position. Once this initial fiexure takes place in response to the applied moment, some further opening movement of the rockable members can be made without increased flexure. Thus, once the initial opening movement takes place, the further opening movement is made under applied moment that is only suflicient to overcome the frictional resistance of the parts.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, such as is shown in FIGURE 2, the flexing portions of the unit move at least to some degree towards their relaxed positions upon further prong-opening movement. This gives a desirable holding action in the prong-opened position.

As shown by the angles 0, FIGURES 2-5, the respective pairs of rockable members may be rocked to prongopening position to a predetermined extent, at which time the parts engage to arrest further opening movement The stop faces that provide this action are identified at, ss in the respective figures.

It will be noted that with the binder of the: present in vention the parts are in a relatively relaxed condition;

when the prongs are closed. Consequently there is a minimum tendency for plastic creep or change in shape with time, which is undesirable.

The foregoing description of specific embodiments is for the purpose of complying with 35 U.S.C. 112 and should not be construed as imposing unnecessary limitations upon the appended claims inasmuch as modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description.

I claim:

1. A two-part ring binder capable of retaining the ring-closed position under applied moment less than a predetermined value, comprising in combination: a first rockable member defining an elongated socket with an axis having a generally cylindrical portion on one side of a plane extending through said axis, and an opposed V-shaped portion on the other side of a plane extending through said axis, said portions being separated by an elongated slot in said plane; a second rockable member defining an elongated head having a rigid cylindrical portion and an opposed rigid V-shaped portion, said portions mating with the socket defined by the first rockable mem her when said members are in predetermined orientation, said second rockable member tur'zher defining a stop surface adapted to seat against said first rockable member when the second rockable member is rocked more than a predetermined amount in a predetermined direction from said predetermined orientation, said first member being of resilient material capable of flexing in response to predetermined applied moment to rock the members out of the mating relationship, said members defining closed sheet-receiving prongs when said socket and said head are oriented in said predetermined orientation and opening to receive sheets when the second rockable member is rocked said predetermined amount in said predetermined direction.

2. A two-part ring binder capable of retaining the ringclosing position under applied moment less than a predetermined value, comprising in combination: a first rockable member defining an elongated socket with an axis, a generally cylindrical portion on one side of a plane extending through said axis, and an opposed V-shaped portion on the other side of a plane through said axis, said portions being separated by an elongated slot in said plane; a second rockable member defining an elongated head having a mating rigid cylinder portion and an opposed V-shaped portion, said portions mating with the socket defined by the first rockable member when said members are in predetermined orientation, said first member being of resilient material capable of flexing in response to predetermined applied moment to rock the members out of the mating relationship, said members defining closed sheet-receiving prongs When said socket and said head are oriented in said predetermined position.

3. A two-part ring binder capable of retaining the ring-closed position under applied moment less than a predetermined value, comprising in combination: a first rockable member defining an elongated nomcircular socket; a second rockable member defining an elongated head of mating conformation to said socket when said members are in predetermined orientation, the first and second rockable members having parts defining closed sheet-receiving prongs when in said predetermined orientation, one of said members further having an elongated slot extending in a plane passing through said head when said members are in said predetermined orientation and defining flexing portions capable of resilient flexure permitting the members to be rocked relative to each other in the prong-opening direction and out of said predetermined orientation.

4. A two-part ring binder adapted to receive a label and capable of retaining the ring-closed position under applied moment less than a predetermined value, comprising in combination: a first rockable member extending the length of said binder and defining a resiliently flexible socket elongated in the direction of said length and non-circular as viewed in a plane normal to said length; a second rockable member defining an elongated head of mating conformation to said socket and received therein, whereby flexure of the first rockable member resiliently accommodates rocking of said head in said socket despite the non-circularity of the same, said members on one side thereof defining closed sheet-receiving prongs when said socket and said head are oriented in the position of mate, and having a transparent portion located on the opposite side thereof in relation to said prongs, with its surface forming a continuation of the head and defining the backbone of the binder, said transparent portion having an internal longitudinal cavity adapted to receive a label strip for viewing from the back side of the binder.

5. A two-part ring binder capable of retaining the ring-closed position under applied moment less than a predetermined value, comprising in combination: a first rockable member extending the length of said binder and defining a relatively rigid socket elongated in the direction of said length and non-circular as viewed in a plane normal to said length; a second rockable member defining an elongated head of mating conformation to said relatively rigid socket when in one position of orientation and received within said relatively rigid socket, said head being of two-part construction defined by a slot extending longitudinally of said rockable member and away from said head, whereby prong fiexure of the second rockable member resiliently accommodates rocking of said head in said socket despite the non-circularity of the socket, said members defining closed sheet-receiving prongs when said socket and said head are oriented in said position of orientation.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,334 Karo Mar. 8, 1892 735,879 Jackson Aug. 11, 1903 775,099 Wendland Nov. 15, 1904 1,652,965 Way Dec. 13, 1927 2,677,853 Ross May 11, 1954 

